For some in the West, which has tended to put stability above democracy in its dealings with the Middle East, these developments are disturbing. Now that the protests have sucked the life out of Mr Mubarak’s regime, they argue, the vacuum will be filled not by democrats but by chaos and strife or by the Muslim Brothers, the anti-Western, anti-Israeli opposition. They conclude that America should redouble its efforts to secure a lengthy “managed transition” by shoring up either Mr Mubarak or someone like him.

East Asia is becoming a more mature and complicated place, demographically, politically, and economically. And, it’s not all bad. There are real gains to applaud. Now, though, cranking out the successes is no longer like manufacturing. It’s marginally costly, whether it involves a currency, building a city, or keeping a military alliance.

This week os a pessimistic week for The Economist. For all the optimism Technology Quarterly brings, it’s the economic doubt raised about Beijing’s role in the world, warnings about the evolution of the internet, and anthropogenic global warming, that is most compelling.